Method and system for configuring a display

ABSTRACT

An interactive video system is disclosed that processes a video data stream and an associated data stream corresponding to the video data stream. The interactive video system displays a video image defined by the video data stream on a display device and performs interactive command functions specified by the associated data stream. The interactive command functions include commands that specify placement of a video display window, commands that specify parameters of graphical objects that are associated with the video image and commands that specify pixel data or graphics description for the graphical object and commands for placement of selection windows and that specify interactive functions for the selection windows.

This is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/665,514, filed Jun.18, 1996, now abandoned, which is a continuation of application Ser. No.08/316,503, filed Sep. 30, 1994 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,541,662.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention pertains to the field of computer systems. Moreparticularly, this invention relates to the coordination of video andaudio data streams using associated data streams to enable contentprogrammer control of display and selection functions for a videosystem.

2. Background

In prior television systems, a video content programmer typicallycontrols the entire video display screen by selecting the videoprogramming, the presentation of the video programming, and theprogramming flow. Typically, such a content programmer maintains totalcontrol over the coloring, the style, and the presentation of images onthe video display screen.

In contrast, the presentation of video on a computer system is typicallylimited by an operating system's styles and conventions. A typicaloperating system for a computer system imposes a particular displaystyle that confine programs executed on the computer system. In the caseof video windows on such a computer system, a content programmer isusually limited to the standard look of the particular operating systemand may not vary too far from the standard look.

However, as such computer systems become more commonly used for thepresentation of consumer items, content programmers may seek morecontrol over the look and feel of computer system video. Such controlwould enable content programmers to select a look and feel closelyidentified with the products being displayed. Such control would requirethat the content programmer control the video information as well asother elements on the video display screen including colors, logos andselection button placement. Unfortunately, such control over the lookand feel of video displays on a computer system is generally unavailableto content programmers on prior television receiving systems.

Prior television receiving systems merely provide mechanisms forincluding data associated with an incoming video signal. Such associateddata is typically received during vertical blanking intervals of theincoming video signal. In such prior systems, the functions of theassociated data in relation to the incoming video signal is usuallyfixed according to the design of the television receiving system.

For example, some prior television receivers include a mechanism fordecoding and displaying closed caption information that corresponds tothe incoming video signal. In such a system, the closed captionassociated data of the incoming video signal is usually decoded anddisplayed with video characters superimposed over the normal incomingvideo scene.

Other prior video receivers decode the associated data of the incomingvideo stream and transfer the decoded data through an input/output portof the receiver. Typically in such systems, the function of theinput/output port is fixed according to a predetermined design of thereceiver. Unfortunately, such systems impose fixed and inflexiblefunctions to video content programmers where the receiving device is acomputer.

In addition, some prior video receiving systems provide rudimentaryinteractive video functions. In such systems, selection regions of thevideo display are typically encoded into the incoming video signal. Suchselection region information usually specifies areas of the videodisplay that correspond to a predetermined selection function accordingto the content of the incoming video signal. The video receiver in suchprior systems typically includes a pointing device that enables a userto position a pointer within a selection region and select thecorresponding function.

Unfortunately, such prior interactive video systems provide only limitedselection and control functions for interactive video such as specifyingregions for picking underlying video objects. Typically, such priorsystems do not enable video content programmers to exercise flexiblecontrol over an entire range of interactive video functions includingthe sizing and placement of video objects over the entire display.

SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to provide flexible contentprogramming control in an interactive video system.

Another object of the present invention is to enable a contentprogrammer to create a video display screen from a programming studioand to flexibly control the area around the video display including theplacement of text, the definition and placement of graphical objects andto provide download information to the computer system and place buttonson the video display to select the downloaded information wherein theadditional display information is in sync with the video and audioinformation.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an interactivevideo system controlled by an associated data stream corresponding to avideo data stream.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an interactivevideo system wherein the associated data stream determines placement ofa video display window on a display device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an interactivevideo system wherein the associated data stream determines placement andfunctionality of selection regions that correspond to a video image inthe video display window.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an interactivevideo system wherein the associated data stream determines the placementand pixel content of graphical objects on the display device thatcorrespond to the video image.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an interactivevideo system that employs the vertical blanking intervals of the videoframes of a video signal or chrominance, sideband, or audio sub carriersignals to transfer the associated data stream.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a video systemthat employs packetized digital data streams to provide a video stream,an audio stream and a command and control associated data stream.

These and other objects of the invention are provided by a video systemthat receives a video data stream and an associated data streamcorresponding to the video data stream via a broadcast receiver, a CATVlink, or a packetized digital communication link. The video systemdisplays a video image defined by the video data stream on a displaydevice and performs command functions specified by the associated datastream.

The command functions include commands that specify parameters thatdetermine an area on a display surface of the display device forplacement of a video display window that contains the video image. Thecommand functions include commands that specify parameters of graphicalobjects that corresponds to the video image and commands that specifypixel data for the graphical objects. The command functions includecommands that specify parameters for placement of selection windows thatcorrespond to the video image and commands that specify functionsperformed if a user selects the selection windows.

One embodiment of the present invention is employed in a computerenhanced video shopping system. For this embodiment, a portion of avideo display screen is allocated to the display of an incoming videoprogram. The remainder of the video display screen contains informationthat describes items being displayed along with manufacturing logos forthe items being displayed on the video display. The remainder of thevideo display screen includes selection regions or buttons to enable aviewer to select more detailed information regarding the items beingdisplayed and related items for sale. In addition, the remainder of thevideo display contains additional text and graphics that providesinformation on future items for display.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will beapparent from the accompanying drawings, and from the detaileddescription that follows below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention is illustrated by way of example and notlimitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which likereferences indicate similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an interactive video system for one embodiment thatreceives data streams through a satellite receiver, a cable television(CATV) receiver, or a television broadcast receiver;

FIG. 2 illustrates a computer system for one embodiment including agraphics display subsystem that drives a display device, a data modemthat receives data streams, and an audio subsystem that drives aspeaker;

FIG. 3 illustrates the data modem for one embodiment which comprises adata selector, a video queue, an audio queue, and an associated dataqueue;

FIG. 4 illustrates a digitized representation of an analog video signalreceived by the data selector from either the CATV receiver or thetelevision broadcast receiver for one embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a packetized digital data stream received by the dataselector for one embodiment which illustrates the format of a videopacket, an audio packet, and an associated data packet;

FIG. 6 illustrates the software architecture for the computer system forone embodiment which includes a data stream manager and an operatingsystem;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating the functions of the data streammanager for one embodiment, wherein the client runtime manager processesthe video, audio, and associated data streams to perform interactivevideo functions.

FIG. 8 shows an example video screen that can be created with thetechnology described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates an interactive video system for one embodiment. Theinteractive video system comprises a computer system 10, along with adisplay device 12, a keyboard 20, a mouse pointing device 22, and aspeaker 24. The interactive video system further comprises a satellitereceiver 14, a cable television (CATV) receiver 16, or a televisionbroadcast receiver 18.

The satellite receiver 14 enables reception of packetized digital datastreams over a satellite link. For one embodiment, the incomingpacketized digital data streams received by the satellite receiver 14conform to the motion picture engineering group (MPEG) video transportstandard. The packetized digital data streams received by the satellitereceiver 14 include video data packets, audio data packets, andassociated data packets. The satellite receiver 14 transfers thereceived digital data stream packets to the computer system 10 over acommunication line 30.

The CATV receiver 16 enables reception of an analog or digital videosignal over a coaxial transmission line 28. The analog video signal overthe coaxial transmission line 28 comprises a CATV cable television link.The CATV receiver 16 digitizes the incoming analog video signal andtransfers the corresponding digitized video signal to the computersystem 10 over the communication line 30. Alternatively, the CATVreceiver 16 transfers the incoming analog video signal to the computersystem 10 over the communication line 30.

The television broadcast receiver 18 enables reception of an analogvideo signal transmitted over the air through an antenna 26. Thetelevision broadcast receiver 18 receives and demodulates the incomingbroadcast analog video signal, performs analog to digital conversion onthe analog video signal to generate a corresponding digital videosignal. The television broadcast receiver 18 transfers the incomingdigital video signal to the computer system 10 over the communicationline 30.

For one embodiment, the computer system 10 receives the packetizeddigital data stream from the satellite receiver 14 over thecommunication line 30. The computer system 10 extracts the video datapackets from the incoming packetized digital data stream and generates acorresponding video image in a video window 40 on a display surface 50of the display device 12. The computer system 10 also extracts audiodata packets of the incoming packetized digital data stream on thecommunication line 30 and generates a corresponding analog audio signalto drive the speaker 24.

The computer system 10 extracts associated data packets of the incomingpacketized digital data stream on the communication line 30 and decodesthe associated data packets according to a predefined video command andcontrol protocol. The associated data packets received over thecommunication line 30 specify a selection region 42 on the displaysurface 50. The incoming associated data packets specify the position ofthe selection region 42 on the display surface 50. The associated datapackets on the communication line 30 also specify a graphical displayicon 44 for the display surface 50. In addition, the associated datapackets specify the graphical content of the icon 44 as well as thepositioning of the icon 44 on the display surface 50.

The incoming associated data packets received over the communicationline 30 specify an information display window 46 on the display surface50. The associated data packets specify a position for the informationdisplay window 46 and the video window 40 on the display surface 50 aswell as the display content of the information display window 46.

For another embodiment, the computer system 10 receives a digitizedrepresentation of the incoming analog video signal from either the CATVreceiver 16 or the television broadcast receiver 18 over thecommunication line 30. The incoming digitized video signal comprises aseries of video frames each comprising a series of video scan intervalsand a vertical blanking interval. The computer system 10 extracts thevideo information for the video window 40 during the video scanintervals of each received video frame over the communication line 30.The computer system 10 extracts the corresponding audio information forthe speaker 24 during the video scan interval of the incoming video dataframes.

In addition, the computer system 10 extracts associated data for theincoming video signal during vertical blanking intervals of the incomingvideo data frames. The computer system 10 decodes the extractedassociated data according to the predefined video command and controlprotocol. The associated data specifies the parameters for the selectionregion 42. The associated data also specifies the position and contentof the graphical display icon 44. The associated data specifies theparameters for the information display window 46 and the video window 40as well as the display content of the information display window 46.

FIG. 2 illustrates the computer system 10 for one embodiment. Thecomputer system 10 comprises a processor 52, a memory subsystem 54, agraphics display subsystem 56. The computer system 10 further comprisesa data modem 58, a disk drive 60, an audio subsystem 62. The processor52 communicates with the memory subsystem 54, the graphics displaysubsystem 56, the data modem 58, the disk drive 60, and the audiosubsystem 62 via a system bus 51.

The memory subsystem 54 provides memory storage areas for an operatingsystem, application programs, device driver programs, and associateddata structures for the computer system 10. For one embodiment, thememory subsystem 54 comprises a dynamic random access memory (DRAM)subsystem. The disk drive 60 provides large scale mass storage to thecomputer system for programs and associated data structures.

The graphics display subsystem 56 performs graphics rendering functionsand includes a frame buffer and associated circuitry to drive thedisplay device 12. The graphics display subsystem 56 enables softwareexecuting on the processor 52 to generate display windows on the displaydevice 12 including video display windows. The graphics displaysubsystem 56 also enables user selection functions from the displaysurface 50 to the display device 12 via the mouse pointing device 22.

The audio subsystem 62 enables software executing on the processor 52 torender audio data and includes circuitry that drives the speaker 24. Theaudio subsystem 62 receives digitized audio data over the system bus 51and generates a corresponding analog audio signal to drive the speaker24.

The data modem 58 receives incoming digital data streams over thecommunication line 30. For one embodiment, the digital data streamsreceived over the communication line 30 comprise packetized digital datastreams from the satellite receiver 14. For another embodiment, thedigital data stream received over the communication line 30 comprises adigitized representation of the analog video signal received either bythe CATV receiver 16 or the television broadcast receiver 18.

The data modem 58 enables software executing on the processor 52 toextract the video data, the audio data, and the associated data from theincoming digital data on the communication line 30. The softwareexecuting on the processor 52 thereafter distributes the video data fordisplay on the display device 12 through the graphics display subsystem56. The processor 52 distributes the incoming audio data to the audiosubsystem 62 to drive the speaker 24. The processor 52 extracts theassociated data through the data modem 58 and performs the interactivevideo functions specified by the associated data.

FIG. 3 illustrates the data modem 58 for one embodiment. The data modem58 comprises, a data selector 76, a video queue 70, an audio queue 72,an associated data queue 74 and an address filter 75. The data selector76 receives incoming digital data streams over the communication line30. The data selector 76 extracts the incoming digital video datareceived over the communication line 30 and transfers the incomingdigital video data into the video queue 70. The data selector 76extracts the incoming digital audio data over the communication line 30and transfers the incoming digital audio data into the audio queue 72.The data selector 76 extracts the incoming digital associated data overthe communication line 30 and transfers the incoming associated datainto the associated data queue 74.

For one embodiment, the data selector 76 receives packetized digitaldata streams over the communication line 30 from the satellite receiver14. The data selector 76 decodes the header of each incoming packet todetermine whether to transfer the incoming packet into either the videoqueue 70, the audio queue 72, or the associated data queue 74.

For another embodiment, the data selector 76 receives a digitizedrepresentation of an analog video signal over the communication line 30from either the CATV receiver 16 or the television broadcast receiver18. The data selector 76 extracts the video information from theincoming digitized video signal and assembles the video information intocorresponding video packets in the video queue 70. The data selector 76extracts the audio information from the incoming digitized video signaland assembles the audio information into corresponding audio packets inthe audio queue 72. The data selector 76 extracts associated data duringthe vertical blanking interval of each video frame of the incomingdigitized video signal on the communication line 30. The data selector76 assembles the incoming associated data into associated data packetsin the associated data queue 74.

The data selector 76 generates an interrupt to the processor 52 over aninterrupt line 78 each time an incoming packet is placed in either thevideo queue 70, the audio queue 72, or the associated data queue 74. Theinterrupt to the processor 52 on the interrupt line 78 causes theprocessor 52 to read the incoming packets from the video queue 70, theaudio queue 72, and the associated data queue 74 over the system bus 51.The processor 52 then distributes the incoming video packets from thevideo queue 70 to the graphics display subsystem 56 to generate a videoimage in the video window 40. The processor 52 distributes the incomingaudio packets to the audio subsystem 62 to drive the speaker 24. Theprocessor 52 reads the incoming associated data packets from theassociated data queue 74 and then performs the video command and controlfunctions specified in the incoming associated data packets.

The address filter 75 contains a data stream address for the computersystem 10. The data selector 76 ignores incoming data streams that donot correspond to the data stream address. The data stream address maybe written by the processor 52. The data stream address may specify thesame address of the data stream or the destination address of thecomputer system 10 for the data stream.

FIG. 4 illustrates a digitized representation of an analog video signalreceived by the data selector 76 from either the CATV receiver 16 or thetelevision broadcast receiver 18 for one embodiment. The incomingdigitized video signal on the communication line 30 comprises a seriesof video frames. Each video frame comprises a series of scan lines thatcarries both video and audio information. Each video frame furthercomprises a vertical blanking interval. The vertical blanking intervalcarries the associated data that corresponds to the video and audioinformation for each video frame.

FIG. 5 illustrates the packetized digital data stream received by thedata selector 76 over the communication line 30 for one embodiment. Theincoming packetized digital data stream on the communication line 30includes a video packet 80, an audio packet 82, and an associated datapacket 84.

The video packet 80, the audio packet 82, and the associated data packet84 each comprise a packet header and a packet payload. The packet headerof the video packet 80, the audio packet 82 and the associated datapacket 84 each include a time stamp (TIME₋₋ STAMP) that synchronizes thevideo, audio and associated data carried in the packets 80-84.

The video packet 80 includes a video payload that provides digital videodata for display in the video display window 40. The video packet 80 isidentified as a packet that carries video data by the video identifier(VIDEO₋₋ ID) in the packet header.

The audio packet 82 includes an audio payload for transfer to the audiosubsystem 64 to drive the speaker 24. The audio packet 82 is identifiedas a packet that carries audio data by the audio identifier (AUDIO₋₋ ID)in the packet header.

The associated data packet 84 includes an associated data payload thatspecifies interactive video command and control functions for thecomputer system 10. The associated data packet 84 is identified as apacket that carries associated data by the associated data identifier(DATA₋₋ ID) in the packet header.

For other embodiments, the associated data stream is carried via achromanance key, a sideband transmission or an audio sub carrier. Anembodiment of the command protocol contains commands that perform thefollowing functions:

1) Specify coordinate scale

2) Video screen position and scaling

3) Screen background color

4) Screen background pattern

5) Text

6) Placement region for text (height and width box)

7) Font, size and color for text

8) Graphic/icon for display

9) Display graphic/icon at position with scale

10) Ordering of graphic/text items for layering on the screen

11) Define height and width and position of a selection region

12) Define command to be performed when selection region selected

13) Define color palette

Each command is pre-pended with an address and an identifier. Theaddress specifies the address of the receiver (with suitable coding for"all" and sub-groups of possible receivers) and the identifier marksthis as a display command (as opposed to other data that is synchronizedwith the video or audio).

One possible implementation of the above functions is illustrated by thefollowing "object oriented" command set:

    ______________________________________                                        Define Object                                                                 Type: Text, Graphic, Icon, Sound, Cursor, Video Window,                       Selection Region, Execution Object, Object List                               Content:    <appropriate to object type>                                      Attributes: <appropriate to object type: for example, text                                attributes include font, size, color>                             Instantiate Object                                                            Background: Transparent, solid color, or repeated object (pattern)            Foreground: Visible/Invisible                                                 Location: <x,y>                                                               Size: <x,y>                                                                   Scale: <x,y>                                                                  Define coordinate scaling                                                                      (low x, high x, low y, high y)                               Define Virtual Screen                                                                          (ID, object list)                                            Display Virtual Screen                                                                         (ID, on/off)                                                 Free Object Instance                                                                           (ID list, <all>)                                             Cache Object Instance                                                                          (ID list, <all>)                                             Define Instance Order                                                                          (ID list) (for overlapping objects)                          Move Object Instance                                                                           (ID, x,y)                                                    Copy Object Instance                                                                           (ID, new x, new y)                                           ______________________________________                                    

FIG. 6 illustrates the software architecture for the computer system 10for one embodiment. The software for the computer system 10 includes aclient runtime manager 102 and an operating system 100. The operatingsystem 100 comprises a set of video driver routines 108, a set of audiodriver routines 104, a data modem driver 106, a pointing device driver110, and a set of display window control routines 112.

The client runtime manager 102 reads incoming packets from the videoqueue 70, the audio queue 72, and the associated data queue 74 using thedata modem driver 106. The data modem driver 106 manages the video queue70, the audio queue 72, or the associated data queue 74 and processesthe interrupts on the interrupt line 78 to the processor 52. The clientruntime manager 102 distributes the incoming video data from the videoqueue 70 to the graphics display subsystem 56 using the video driverroutines 108. The video driver routines 108 enable the client runtimemanager 102 to display the incoming video data stream within the videowindow 40 on the display surface 50 of the display device 12.

The client runtime manager 102 distributes the incoming audio data fromthe audio queue 72 to the audio subsystem 62 using the audio driverroutines 104. The audio driver routines 104 enable the client runtimemanager 102 to drive the speaker 24 with the incoming audio informationfrom the audio queue 72.

The client runtime manager 102 reads the incoming associated datapackets from the associated data queue 74 and executes the command andcontrol interactive video functions specified by each associated datapacket. The associated data packets are synchronized to the video andaudio packets via the TIME₋₋ STAMP in each packet header. The associateddata packets from the associated data queue 74 include commands thatspecify the placement of graphic objects on the display device 12. Theassociated data packets also include commands for placement forgraphical windows on the display device 12. The associated data packetsalso specify graphical objects for rendering on the display device 12.

The associated data packets also specify selection regions for thedisplay surface 50 of the display device 12. In addition, the associateddata packets includes commands for execution upon selection of one ofthe specified selection regions by the mouse pointing device 22. Theassociated data packets also include commands for the presentationplacement and sizing of the video window 40 on the display surface 50.

The display window control routines 112 enable the client runtimemanager 102 to define the video display window 40 according to thespecifications provided by the associated data packets. The pointingdevice driver 110 enables the client runtime manager 102 to detect theselection of one of the selection regions defined by the associateddata.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating the functions of the clientruntime manager 102 for one embodiment. The client runtime manager 102is driven by interrupts from the data modem 58 over the system bus 51.At decision block 120, the client runtime manager 102 determines whetheran incoming video packet is available from the video queue 70. If anincoming video packet is available at decision block 120 then controlproceeds to block 122. At block 122 the client runtime manager 102updates the content of the video display 40 using the video driverroutines 108 to communicate with the graphics display subsystem 56.Thereafter, the client runtime manager 102 waits for another interruptfrom the data modem 58.

At decision block 124, the client runtime manager 102 determines whetheran incoming audio packet is available from the audio queue 72. If anincoming audio packet is available from the audio queue 72 then controlproceeds to block 126. At block 126 the client runtime manager 102invokes the audio driver routines 104 to play out the incoming audiopacket to the audio subsystem 62. The client runtime manager 102transfers the audio packet payload audio data to the audio subsystem 62to drive the speaker 24. Thereafter, the client runtime manager 102awaits another interrupt from the data modem 58.

At decision block 128, the client runtime manager 102 determines whetheran incoming associated data packet is available in the associated dataqueue 74. If an associated data packet is not available from theassociated data queue 74 then the client runtime manager 102 waits thenext interrupt from the data modem 58.

If an associated data packet is available from the associated data queue74 at decision block 128, then control proceeds to block 130. At block130, the client runtime manager 102 reads the associated data packetfrom the associated data queue 74 and performs the interactive commandand control functions specified by the incoming associated data packet.Thereafter, the client runtime manager 102 awaits the next interruptfrom the data modem 58.

FIG. 8 illustrates an example arrangement of video and display data onthe display surface 50 which is generated under content programmercontrol with the techniques described herein.

In the foregoing specification the invention has been described withreference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will, however,be evident that various modifications and changes may be made theretowithout departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention asset forth in the appended claims. The specification and drawings areaccordingly to be regarded as illustrative rather than a restrictivesense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for providing a video display image,comprising the steps of:receiving a video data stream and an associateddata stream corresponding to the video data stream; and displaying avideo image defined by the video data stream on a display device; andperforming an interactive command function specified by the associateddata stream, wherein the interactive command function comprises acommand that specifies a set of parameters that controls theconfiguration of the video image including determining an area on adisplay surface of the display device for placement of a graphicalobject that corresponds to the video image.
 2. A method for creating adisplay in a computer system, comprising the steps of:receiving a videostream and a data stream synchronized to the video stream, wherein thedata stream specifies a graphical object for display on a displayscreen, the data stream specifying at least one graphical command;generating a video scene defined by the data stream onto a portion of adisplay screen of the computer system; and performing a graphicaloperation on the computer screen defined by the graphical command,wherein the graphical command controls the configuration of the videoscene.
 3. A method for creating a display in a computer system,comprising the steps of:receiving a video stream and a data streamsynchronized to the video stream, the data stream specifying at leastone graphical command; generating a video scene defined by the datastream onto a portion of a display screen of the computer system; andperforming a graphical operation on the computer screen defined by thegraphical command, wherein the graphical command controls theconfiguration of the video scene including specifying a set ofparameters that define selection regions on the display screen.
 4. Amethod for creating a display in a computer system, comprising the stepsof:receiving a video stream and a data stream synchronized to the videostream, the data stream specifying at least one graphical command;generating a video scene defined by the data stream onto a portion of adisplay screen of the computer system; and performing a graphicaloperation on the computer screen defined by the graphical command,wherein the graphical operation defined by the graphical commandcontrols the configuration of the video scene including specifying aselection device for picking selection regions on the display screen anddetermines an area on the display screen for placement of the videoscene.
 5. A method for creating a display in a computer system,comprising the steps of:receiving a video stream and a data streamsynchronized to the video stream, the data stream specifying at leastone graphical command; generating a video scene defined by the datastream onto a portion of a display screen of the computer system; andperforming a graphical operation on the computer screen defined by thegraphical command, wherein the graphical command controls theconfiguration of the video scene including determining placement andformat of the text including font, color, and point size.
 6. A method ofconfiguring a display comprising:receiving at least a portion of a videoframe from a transmitter: receiving a command from the transmitter;configuring the display according to the command, wherein the commandcontrols the configuration of the at least a portion of the video frame,the step of configuring the display including the step of changing ascreen background color; and displaying the at least a portion of thevideo frame.
 7. A computer system adapted to perform the method of claim6.
 8. A method of configuring a display comprising:receiving at least aportion of a video frame from a transmitter; receiving a command fromthe transmitter; configuring the display according to the command,wherein the command controls the configuration of the at least a portionof the video frame, the step of configuring the display including thestep of changing a screen background pattern; and displaying the atleast a portion of the video frame.
 9. A computer system adapted toperform the method of claim
 8. 10. A method of configuring a displaycomprising:receiving at least a portion of a video frame from atransmitter; receiving a command from the transmitter; configuring thedisplay according to the command, wherein the command controls theconfiguration of the at least a portion of the video frame, the step ofconfiguring the display including the step of displaying text; anddisplaying the at least a portion of the video frame.
 11. A computersystem adapted to perform the method of claim
 10. 12. A method ofconfiguring a display comprising:receiving at least a portion of a videoframe from a transmitter; receiving a command from the transmitter;configuring the display according to the command, wherein the commandcontrols the configuration of the at least a portion of the video frame,the step of configuring the display including the step of displaying atext box; and displaying the at least a portion of the video frame. 13.A computer system adapted to perform the method of claim
 12. 14. Amethod of configuring a display comprising:receiving at least a portionof a video frame from a transmitter; receiving a command from thetransmitter; configuring the display according to the command, whereinthe command controls the configuration of the at least a portion of thevideo frame, the step of configuring the display including the step ofchanging a text font sized; and displaying the at least a portion of thevideo frame.
 15. A computer system adapted to perform the method ofclaim
 14. 16. A method of configuring a display comprising:receiving atleast a portion of a video frame from a transmitter; receiving a commandfrom the transmitter; configuring the display according to the command,wherein the command controls the configuration of the at least a portionof the video frame, the step of configuring the display including thestep of changing a text font color; and displaying the at least aportion of the video frame.
 17. A computer system adapted to perform themethod of claim
 16. 18. A method of configuring a displaycomprising:receiving at least a portion of a video frame from atransmitter; receiving a command from the transmitter; configuring thedisplay according to the command, wherein the command controls theconfiguration of the at least a portion of the video frame, the step ofconfiguring the display including the step of displaying an icon; anddisplaying the at least a portion of the video frame.
 19. A computersystem adapted to perform the method of claim
 18. 20. A method ofconfiguring a display comprising:receiving at least a portion of a videoframe from a transmitter; receiving a command from the transmitter:configuring the display according to the command, wherein the commandcontrols the configuration of the at least a portion of the video frame,the step of configuring the display including the step of orderinggraphic items for layering on the screen; and displaying the at least aportion of the video frame.
 21. A computer system adapted to perform themethod of claim
 20. 22. A method of configuring a displaycomprising:receiving at least a portion of a video frame from atransmitter: receiving a command from the transmitter; configuring thedisplay according to the command, wherein the command controls theconfiguration of the at least a portion of the video frame, the step ofconfiguring the display including the step of defining a height of aselection region; and displaying the at least a portion of the videoframe.
 23. A computer system adapted to perform the method of claim 22.24. A method of configuring a display comprising:receiving at least aportion of a video frame from a transmitter; receiving a command fromthe transmitter; configuring the display according to the command,wherein the command controls the configuration of the at least a portionof the video frame, the step of configuring the display including thestep of defining a width of a selection region; and displaying the atleast a portion of the video frame.
 25. A computer system adapted toperform the method of claim
 24. 26. A method of configuring a displaycomprising:receiving at least a portion of a video frame from atransmitter; receiving a command from the transmitter; configuring thedisplay according to the command, wherein the command controls theconfiguration of the at least a portion of the video frame, the step ofconfiguring the display including the step of defining a color palette;and displaying the at least a portion of the video frame.
 27. A computersystem adapted to perform the method of claim 26.